A method for transforming track representations associated with a spatial position and movement of objects or features observed in an external environment surrounding a vehicle from a vehicle-centric spatial frame of reference, such as associated with a vehicle body or centerline, into a common vehicle movement spatial frame of reference such as may be associated with a vehicle thrust line or vehicle thrust angle.
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1. A method for calibrating, with a vehicle service system, a plurality of onboard vehicle safety system sensors relative to a vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference for tracking spatial position and movement of an object external to a vehicle, comprising: measuring, with the vehicle service system, an alignment of a selected one of said plurality of onboard vehicle safety system sensor relative to said vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference; responsive to said measured alignment, adjusting, with the vehicle service system, said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor relative to said vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference; and subsequent to said adjustment of said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor, adjusting at least one additional onboard vehicle safety system sensor in said plurality of onboard vehicle safety system sensors relative to said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor such that a track representation of said object generated by said at least one additional onboard vehicle safety system sensor aligns with a track representation of said object generated by said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor to form a fused track representation within said vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference.
The invention relates to vehicle safety systems, specifically methods for calibrating onboard sensors to ensure accurate tracking of external objects relative to a vehicle's movement. The problem addressed is the misalignment of multiple sensors, which can lead to inconsistent or inaccurate tracking of objects around the vehicle, compromising safety features like collision avoidance or autonomous driving. The method involves a vehicle service system that calibrates multiple onboard safety sensors to a common vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference. First, the system measures the alignment of a selected sensor relative to this frame. Based on the measured alignment, the system adjusts the selected sensor to correct any discrepancies. After this adjustment, the system calibrates at least one additional sensor relative to the already-calibrated sensor. The calibration ensures that the track representations of an external object generated by the additional sensor align with those from the selected sensor, forming a fused track representation within the vehicle-movement spatial frame. This alignment improves the accuracy and reliability of object tracking, enhancing the overall performance of vehicle safety systems.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one additional onboard vehicle safety system sensor is in relative alignment with said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor prior to said adjustment of said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor; and wherein adjusting said at least one additional onboard vehicle safety system sensor relative to said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor restores said relative alignment following said adjustment of said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor.
This invention relates to vehicle safety systems, specifically methods for adjusting onboard safety sensors while maintaining alignment between multiple sensors. The problem addressed is ensuring that when one safety sensor is adjusted for calibration or positioning, the relative alignment with other sensors is preserved to maintain system accuracy and functionality. The method involves a vehicle equipped with multiple onboard safety system sensors, such as cameras, radar, or lidar units. Before adjusting a selected sensor, the system ensures that at least one additional sensor is in proper relative alignment with the selected sensor. After adjusting the selected sensor, the system then adjusts the additional sensor(s) to restore the original relative alignment. This ensures that the sensors remain properly coordinated, preventing misalignment that could degrade safety system performance. The adjustment may involve mechanical repositioning, software calibration, or a combination of both. The method is particularly useful in autonomous or advanced driver-assistance systems where precise sensor alignment is critical for reliable operation. By dynamically maintaining alignment, the system avoids the need for manual recalibration after adjustments, improving efficiency and reliability.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said relative alignment is predetermined.
A system and method for aligning components in a manufacturing or assembly process involves determining and adjusting the relative alignment between two or more components to achieve a desired positional relationship. The alignment is predetermined based on design specifications, ensuring consistent and accurate positioning during assembly. This method is particularly useful in industries where precise component alignment is critical, such as aerospace, automotive, or electronics manufacturing. The predetermined alignment may be defined by specific coordinates, angles, or spatial relationships between the components. The system may include sensors or imaging devices to detect the current positions of the components and actuators or robotic arms to adjust their positions accordingly. The method ensures that the components are aligned within specified tolerances, reducing assembly errors and improving product quality. By using predetermined alignment parameters, the system eliminates the need for manual adjustments, increasing efficiency and reducing human error. The method may also include feedback mechanisms to verify alignment accuracy and make real-time corrections if deviations are detected. This approach is applicable to both static and dynamic alignment scenarios, where components may need to be aligned during movement or operation. The predetermined alignment settings can be stored in a database or control system for repeated use, ensuring consistency across multiple production cycles.
4. The method of claim 2 where said relative alignment is measured prior to said adjustment of said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor.
This invention relates to vehicle safety systems, specifically methods for adjusting onboard vehicle safety system sensors to ensure proper alignment. The problem addressed is the need to accurately measure and adjust the relative alignment of vehicle safety system sensors, such as cameras, radar, or lidar, to maintain optimal performance. Misalignment can lead to reduced detection accuracy, false alerts, or system failures, compromising vehicle safety. The method involves measuring the relative alignment of a vehicle safety system sensor before making any adjustments. This pre-adjustment measurement ensures that any corrections applied are based on precise initial alignment data. The process may include using reference markers, calibration targets, or other alignment verification techniques to determine the sensor's current orientation. Once the initial alignment is measured, adjustments are made to the sensor to correct any deviations from the desired position. The adjustments may involve mechanical adjustments, software recalibration, or a combination of both. The goal is to ensure that the sensor operates within specified tolerances for accurate detection and reliable performance. This method is particularly useful in autonomous vehicles, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and other safety-critical applications where sensor accuracy is paramount. By measuring alignment before adjustments, the system can minimize errors and improve overall reliability. The invention may also include additional steps, such as verifying the alignment post-adjustment to confirm the corrections were successful. This ensures that the sensor remains properly aligned for consistent and dependable operation.
5. The calibration method of claim 1 wherein said vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference is a vehicle thrust line frame of reference.
This invention relates to calibration methods for vehicle systems, specifically addressing the challenge of accurately aligning sensor data with a vehicle's movement. The method involves establishing a spatial frame of reference for the vehicle's movement, which is then used to calibrate sensors or other components. The calibration ensures that sensor measurements are correctly interpreted relative to the vehicle's motion, improving accuracy in navigation, control, or other applications. In this specific embodiment, the spatial frame of reference is defined as a vehicle thrust line frame of reference. This means the calibration is based on the direction of the vehicle's thrust, which is particularly useful for vehicles where thrust direction is a primary factor in movement, such as aircraft, rockets, or underwater vehicles. By aligning sensor data with the thrust line, the system can account for deviations caused by external forces or vehicle dynamics, ensuring precise measurements. The calibration process may involve comparing sensor outputs to expected values based on the thrust line, adjusting sensor parameters to minimize discrepancies, or mapping sensor data to the thrust line frame. This approach enhances the reliability of vehicle systems that depend on accurate spatial awareness, such as autonomous navigation or stability control. The method is applicable to various vehicle types where thrust direction is a critical factor in movement.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor includes storing an offset value or correction value in an accessible memory onboard said vehicle, said offset value or correction value utilized to adjust said at least one additional onboard vehicle safety system sensor.
This invention relates to vehicle safety systems, specifically methods for adjusting onboard sensors to improve accuracy and coordination between multiple safety system components. The problem addressed is the need for precise calibration and synchronization of sensors in vehicle safety systems, such as those used in collision avoidance, lane departure warnings, or adaptive cruise control, to ensure reliable performance. The method involves adjusting a selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor by storing an offset or correction value in an accessible onboard memory. This stored value is then used to adjust at least one additional onboard vehicle safety system sensor. The adjustment ensures that multiple sensors operate in a coordinated manner, compensating for discrepancies that may arise due to environmental factors, sensor degradation, or manufacturing tolerances. By applying the stored correction, the system maintains consistent and accurate sensor readings across different safety functions, enhancing overall vehicle safety. The approach allows for dynamic adjustments without requiring manual recalibration, improving reliability and reducing maintenance needs. The stored offset or correction value can be updated periodically or in real-time based on sensor performance data, ensuring continuous optimization of the safety system. This method is particularly useful in modern vehicles equipped with multiple interconnected safety sensors, where synchronization is critical for effective operation.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor includes altering an alignment of said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor relative to said vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference; and wherein adjusting said at least one additional onboard vehicle safety system sensor includes altering an alignment said at least one additional onboard vehicle safety system sensor relative to said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor.
This invention relates to vehicle safety systems, specifically methods for adjusting the alignment of onboard sensors to improve detection accuracy. The problem addressed is ensuring precise sensor alignment to enhance the performance of vehicle safety systems, such as collision avoidance or autonomous driving systems, which rely on accurate spatial data. The method involves selecting an onboard vehicle safety system sensor and at least one additional sensor. The alignment of the selected sensor is adjusted relative to a vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference, which defines the vehicle's position and orientation in space. This adjustment ensures the selected sensor is optimally positioned to detect relevant environmental data. Additionally, the alignment of the at least one additional sensor is adjusted relative to the selected sensor, rather than the vehicle-movement frame. This allows the additional sensor to complement or refine the data captured by the primary sensor, improving overall system accuracy. By dynamically adjusting sensor alignments, the method ensures that the vehicle's safety systems maintain high precision in detecting obstacles, road conditions, or other critical factors, even as the vehicle moves or environmental conditions change. This approach enhances the reliability of safety features, reducing the risk of false readings or missed hazards. The method is particularly useful in autonomous vehicles or advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) where sensor accuracy is critical for safe operation.
8. A method for calibrating, with a vehicle service system, a plurality of onboard vehicle safety system sensors relative to a vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference for tracking spatial position and movement of an object external to a vehicle, comprising: measuring, with the vehicle service system, an alignment of a selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor relative to an axis of said vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference, said measuring establishing an alignment offset between an orientation of said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor and said axis of said vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference; communicating, from said vehicle service system to a primary vehicle sensor control system onboard the vehicle undergoing inspection, a representation of said established alignment offset; and utilizing said communicated representation of said established alignment offset to refine a track representation associated with an object external to said vehicle from a local frame of reference into said vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference, said track representation generated in said local frame of reference by at least one additional onboard vehicle safety system sensor which is aligned relative to said selected onboard vehicle safety system sensor.
This invention relates to vehicle safety systems, specifically methods for calibrating onboard sensors to improve spatial tracking of external objects. The problem addressed is ensuring accurate alignment of multiple vehicle safety system sensors relative to a vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference, which is critical for reliable object tracking and collision avoidance. The method involves using a vehicle service system to measure the alignment of a selected onboard sensor relative to a vehicle-movement spatial axis, determining any offset between the sensor's orientation and the axis. This alignment offset data is then communicated to the vehicle's primary sensor control system. The communicated offset is used to refine track representations of external objects, converting them from a local sensor frame of reference to the vehicle-movement spatial frame. This refinement process relies on the alignment relationship between the selected sensor and at least one additional onboard sensor that generates the initial track data. The system ensures that multiple sensors work cohesively to provide accurate spatial tracking, enhancing vehicle safety by improving object detection and movement prediction.
9. The calibration method of claim 8 wherein said vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference is a vehicle thrust line frame of reference, and wherein said axis of said vehicle-movement spatial frame of reference is a vehicle thrust axis or vehicle thrust line.
This invention relates to calibration methods for vehicle navigation systems, specifically addressing the challenge of accurately aligning a vehicle's spatial frame of reference with its actual movement. The method involves calibrating a vehicle's navigation system by determining the relationship between the vehicle's movement and a predefined spatial frame of reference. The calibration process includes measuring the vehicle's movement along a defined axis of the spatial frame, such as a vehicle thrust line or thrust axis, to ensure the navigation system accurately reflects the vehicle's true motion. This calibration is particularly useful for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles where precise navigation is critical. The method may involve comparing the vehicle's movement data with the spatial frame to correct any misalignments, ensuring the navigation system operates with high accuracy. By aligning the vehicle's movement with the thrust line or thrust axis, the system can compensate for deviations caused by environmental factors or mechanical imperfections, improving overall navigation performance. The calibration process may be performed dynamically during operation or as part of a static setup procedure, depending on the vehicle's requirements. This approach enhances the reliability of vehicle navigation systems by ensuring they accurately track the vehicle's movement relative to its thrust line or axis.
10. The calibration method of claim 8 wherein said step of communicating includes storing said representation of said established alignment offset in a data store accessible by said primary vehicle sensor control system.
This invention relates to a calibration method for vehicle sensor systems, specifically addressing the challenge of accurately aligning sensor data between multiple vehicle control systems. The method involves establishing an alignment offset between a primary vehicle sensor control system and a secondary vehicle sensor control system to ensure consistent sensor data interpretation. The alignment offset is determined by comparing sensor data from both systems and calculating the necessary adjustments to synchronize their outputs. Once the alignment offset is established, it is communicated to the primary vehicle sensor control system. The method further includes storing this representation of the alignment offset in a data store accessible by the primary vehicle sensor control system, allowing for persistent reference and future calibration adjustments. This ensures that the primary system can consistently apply the correct offset to maintain accurate sensor data alignment, improving vehicle safety and performance. The stored offset can be retrieved and applied during subsequent operations, enabling efficient recalibration or system updates without requiring repeated manual alignment procedures. The invention enhances the reliability and accuracy of sensor data integration in vehicle control systems, particularly in scenarios where multiple systems must work in tandem.
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June 27, 2019
April 12, 2022
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